December 20/12 10:06 am - TIBCO Announces 2013 Roster

Posted by Editoress on 12/20/12

California-based UCI registered women's team TIBCO has announced their squad for next season, with Canadian Olympic bronze medalist Jasmin Glaesser joining the squad just as her bronze medal team mate Tara Whitten leaves to complete her PhD studies. Glaesser will be joined on TIBCO by New Zealand track rival Rushlee Buchanan, who is returning to the team after having concentrated on track for the lead up to the London Olympics.

The full team release:

Former Team TIBCO rider Rushlee Buchanan is returning to the Team for 2013. The New Zealander, who raced for Team TIBCO in 2008 and 2009, spent much of 2011 and 2012 focusing on the track in order to make the London squad. Her efforts paid off and earned her a trip to the Olympics as part of the team pursuit squad. For next season, she’ll return her focus to the road.

“We’re excited to have Rushlee back on the team for next year,” team director Linda Jackson said. “She was a great teammate when we had her the first time around and we’ve watched her to continue to develop as a cyclist these past few years. Her trip to London is evidence of that strong growth. We expect that to continue in 2013.”

Though she’s been racing professionally for a number of years, Buchanan will still only be 25 at the start of the 2013 season. “As good as she’s been, we think Rushlee still hasn’t reached her potential.”

Buchanan is joined by Canadian Olympian Jasmin Glaesser, part of the bronze medal-winning pursuit team that also included Team TIBCO member Tara Whitten, who will be taking the 2013 season off to finish her Ph.D. in Neuroscience. For the 19-year-old Glaesser, it will be her first full season racing on the road.

“Jasmin has only been racing bikes for a few years and she’s progressed very quickly,” Jackson said. “Though her focus has been on the track, we expect her to progress quickly on the road, too.

Second-year pro Anna Barensfeld also joins Team TIBCO for 2013.

“Anna is another rider still developing her potential,” Jackson said. “ She is a tireless worker and ready to do whatever it takes to help the team.” Barensfeld is also working on completing her MBA at Babson College.

The Team’s final signing is neo-pro Nicole Justice, a San Francisco Bay Area native. The soon-to-be 27-year-old Justice has only been racing a bike a couple years, but has shown rapid progress up the ranks.

“Nicole is still learning, but she has a lot of potential and a lot of drive,” Jackson said. “Our plan for her right now is to gain experience with the team at NRC races.”

Justice has a Sociology degree from Rice University. She also earned her teaching credential from Santa Clara University in 2010.

Buchanan, Glaesser, Barensfeld and Justice join other new 2013 signings Claudia Hausler, Chantal Blaak and Shelley Olds. They will all team up with returning riders Meredith Miller, Amanda Miller, Joanne Kiesanowski, Samantha Schneider and Lindsay Myers.